Do crabs help each other?

Where we discuss the behavior of our hermit crabs, as in fights, pecking orders, shell swaps, etc. Please post all naked-crab posts in the Emergency forum.
Locked
User avatar

Topic author
Lburns
Posts: 194
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:33 pm
Location: Alabama

Do crabs help each other?

Post by Lburns » Fri Mar 13, 2015 4:36 pm

It seems like Batman is the momma of my group. I think I saw her taking food to Lex when I first brought him home and he was hiding in the hermie hut. And, Batman started digging around where Man-Bat went down to molt two days before he came back up. Almost as if she was helping make him a tunnel to come back up easier. She hasn't been digging or bothering Man-Bat now that he is back up. When Lex started burying down to molt, I caught Killer Croc hanging around him a lot and wondered if she was helping him out in some way. I may just be trying to humanize normal crab behavior. But, I'm curious if anyone else has noticed behaviors where it appears they are trying to help each other?
4 PPs. Crabbing since Sept. 2014. Batman - Found as a stray (holy crab!) (2 molts). Killer Croc (1 molt). Man-Bat (1 molt). Lex Luthor (1 molt).
RIP Robin (did not survive 1st molt).

User avatar

Beebalm
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 8:01 pm
Location: Wolcott, CT

Re: Do crabs help each other?

Post by Beebalm » Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:00 pm

I have been wondering the same thing myself. Last Friday one of my larger crabs used his claw to boost up little guy Moby who was having a hard time climbing on the cocoa hut. He slipped down a bit and the bigger guy did it a second time! I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it myself... Coincidence? Looking forward to seeing what others have experienced!
Mom to 19 PP in 3 tats: Crabzilla, Big Red, Moby, Red Legs, Bluey, Trooper, Scrabbles, Shelly,The Crusher, Snoofus, Finster, Sheep Guy, Cannoli and 6 more smalls...lets get rid of those painted shells and get a name, guys!

User avatar

Topic author
Lburns
Posts: 194
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:33 pm
Location: Alabama

Re: Do crabs help each other?

Post by Lburns » Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:06 pm

Awwhhh, that sounds sweet @Beebalm.
4 PPs. Crabbing since Sept. 2014. Batman - Found as a stray (holy crab!) (2 molts). Killer Croc (1 molt). Man-Bat (1 molt). Lex Luthor (1 molt).
RIP Robin (did not survive 1st molt).


hermitcrablover1
Posts: 37
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2014 4:27 pm

Re: Do crabs help each other?

Post by hermitcrablover1 » Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:24 pm

Years ago my oldest son was watching 2 crabs together. The smallest one, Houdini fell and landed upside down in the water dish. He was not able to get up himself. His friend Climbie held out his bp for him to grap onto. He did not try to grab it. So Climbie reached out using his bp and grabbed onto Houdini and flipped him upright.
I couldn't believe he sat and just watched. I would have helped him myself.


33hermiesrlife33
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:46 pm

Re: Do crabs help each other?

Post by 33hermiesrlife33 » Sun Mar 15, 2015 7:59 pm

I recently got 2 new very small purple pincxhers and I had noticed while I was preparing there tank that one of the new crabs had brought a few pieces of coconut for himself and the other crab who I guess was too scared to come out of there little hideaway and he shared the coconut prices he brought with him. So yeah I guess Hermie's do help each other out! :roll:
~2 micros!!~in all 5 PPs~
R.I.P-Murphy-Big Red-
Two 10 gallon tanks and a 29/30 gallon tank!

User avatar

Topic author
Lburns
Posts: 194
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:33 pm
Location: Alabama

Re: Do crabs help each other?

Post by Lburns » Sun Mar 15, 2015 10:00 pm

Thanks for sharing! Those are all great stories!
4 PPs. Crabbing since Sept. 2014. Batman - Found as a stray (holy crab!) (2 molts). Killer Croc (1 molt). Man-Bat (1 molt). Lex Luthor (1 molt).
RIP Robin (did not survive 1st molt).


HermitCrabRookie
Posts: 93
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2015 2:51 pm
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Contact:

Re: Do crabs help each other?

Post by HermitCrabRookie » Tue Mar 17, 2015 12:07 pm

I have a pic in the pic section where it looks like one of my hermies is about to jump on another. Acctually the big guy was stuck and watchin the smaller one from above appeared to be trying to help pull him up out of the spot he was stuck in.
8 PP;
Hermie, Dexter, Squirmy, Lucky, Scary, Griffin, Chocolate, Jimmy

User avatar

Topic author
Lburns
Posts: 194
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:33 pm
Location: Alabama

Re: Do crabs help each other?

Post by Lburns » Tue Mar 17, 2015 6:57 pm

Sweet!
4 PPs. Crabbing since Sept. 2014. Batman - Found as a stray (holy crab!) (2 molts). Killer Croc (1 molt). Man-Bat (1 molt). Lex Luthor (1 molt).
RIP Robin (did not survive 1st molt).

User avatar

Nia
Posts: 237
Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2013 1:35 am

Re: Do crabs help each other?

Post by Nia » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:21 pm

Mine have helped each other as well. Ms.Hearts got hurt and lost limbs and her BF Herc took wonderful care of her while she recovered still is very protective over her now. BatGirl n her BF Reese are the same. Tho BatGirl is not afraid to kick Reese's lil butt in line when he needs it :lol:. Herc is always super gentle with Hearts n lets her get away with everything :lol: even hitching rides.
Mom to: 2 Kids,4 PP's, Cats, 1 Dogs, and whatever else gets put on my doorstep. (Box on doorstep. Hubby says,"Did you order anything?" I say "no". He says, "go get it, I don't want to know." Even tho he always ends up loving it or at least accepting it lol.)

User avatar

rml6f4
Posts: 168
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:47 pm

Re: Do crabs help each other?

Post by rml6f4 » Sat Mar 21, 2015 1:20 am

I've noticed my largest PP, Crabzilla, doing these things sometimes. When one of my smaller PPs was being picked on and was chirping Crabzilla came over and broke up the fight. I also saw Crabzilla lifting his big pincher and pushing a little crab up a cork log to help it climb (pic below, terrible quality though). I thought they were just coincidences but maybe it isn't so!
Image


HermitCrabRookie
Posts: 93
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2015 2:51 pm
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Contact:

Re: Do crabs help each other?

Post by HermitCrabRookie » Sun Mar 22, 2015 10:12 am

I got these last night it was so cute. Chocolate goin for a ride on top of Scary.

Image

Image
8 PP;
Hermie, Dexter, Squirmy, Lucky, Scary, Griffin, Chocolate, Jimmy

User avatar

EmiLovesHermies
Posts: 97
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2015 2:38 pm

Re: Do crabs help each other?

Post by EmiLovesHermies » Sun Mar 22, 2015 12:08 pm

I haven't seen any of my crabs doing that but they sound so cute :)
3 Cats, 2 Chinys, 3 Hermie's, and a Fish Tank. R.I.P. Prescott, Bubbles, Oto, and Tetra, Tetra, Rummy/Captain, Tetra I will always love you.

User avatar

Topic author
Lburns
Posts: 194
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:33 pm
Location: Alabama

Re: Do crabs help each other?

Post by Lburns » Mon Mar 23, 2015 11:40 pm

I love all these stories!! Thanks for sharing everyone! :P
4 PPs. Crabbing since Sept. 2014. Batman - Found as a stray (holy crab!) (2 molts). Killer Croc (1 molt). Man-Bat (1 molt). Lex Luthor (1 molt).
RIP Robin (did not survive 1st molt).

Locked